|
| Date: | May 3, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Libbie Krueger | | Contact Phone: | 651.296.1388 | | Contact Email: | elizabeth.krueger@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
|
| SEN. PAM WOLF COMMENTS ON TEACHER LAYOFF REFORM VETO |
ST. PAUL) – The “Last In, First Out” (LIFO) reform bill was vetoed by Governor Dayton on Thursday. The legislation, which garnered bipartisan support, attempted to keep the best teachers in Minnesota’s classrooms by exiting ineffective teachers before those who had been deemed “effective” or “highly effective” in lay-off situations.
Senator Pam Wolf (R – Spring Lake Park), the author of the legislation in the Senate, made the following statement regarding the veto:
“We worked in a bipartisan manner to draft a bill that benefits Minnesota’s teachers and students. When schools are able to retain good teachers, a child’s learning experience is greatly enhanced. As the policy stands, experience does not equal seniority. LIFO reform would have opened doors for effective, experienced teachers to move to schools where their skills are needed without the fear of being laid off for lack of seniority. Reforming the current LIFO system would have given our schools the tools they need to attract and retain effective educators who can provide our children with quality education.”
Based on current statute, school districts must shift positions and reassign more senior teachers while teachers with less seniority are guaranteed to be laid off first, regardless of teacher effectiveness or experience. Minnesota is one of only eleven states that requires school districts to base teacher layoffs on seniority without consideration of teacher effectiveness.
Amongst others, StudentsFirst, African American Leadership Forum, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, MinnCAN, and Action for Equity joined the broad coalition of organizations to offer support for the legislative initiative. Education Minnesota was the only organization to publicly oppose the LIFO reform measure.
“I am disappointed that Governor Dayton values partisan politics and special interests more than he values Minnesota’s school children. Along with legendary Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton, I hoped that ‘the governor would turn some attention to something far more important than football: our public schools and a failed policy that’s hurting our kids.’ The governor failed to act on the opportunity to make sure we have the best teachers in our schools to educate the next generation of Minnesotans,” concluded Wolf.
###
